I WAS UNJUST BECAUSE WEAK 373

sign the Congress pledge with violence in your breasts?
I want complete obedience to the policy of non-violence.
"While the policy lasts, it is the same as though it was a creed,
for so long as it holds good it is as good as a creed. My
creed holds me for life; yours so long as you hold it. Resign
from the Congress, and you are free from it. Let us be clear
regarding the language we use and the thoughts we nurture.
For, what is language but the expression of thought? Let
your thought be accurate and truthful, and you will has-
ten the advent of Swaraj even if the whole world is against
you. You will have won Swaraj without having to spend
nine million pounds a day or without burning a single
home. If you are true to your policy, I am sure that with-
out doing any of these things you will build up the majestic
edifice of freedom.

Now fo^the violence party. Do not mix up the methods,
if you can help it. You have restrained yourselves for some
years. Restrain yourselves for some more years. Ours is
not a small battle. If you restrain yourselves, you will lose
nothing.

Freedom of speech and pen is the foundation of Swa-
raj. If the foundation-stone is in danger, you have to exert
the whole of your might in order to defend that single stone.
May God help you.
Harijan, 29-9-1940

141

I WAS UNJUST BECAUSE WEAK

I know Rajaji enough to understand that lie is too
brave to need any support from anybody; he is too philo-
sophic to harbour an injury for many hours, if not minutes,
I know also that his fine sense of humour enables him to
enjoy a joke at his expense. Therefore this confession must be
taken as one for my own satisfaction only*

I have told the public that, had I not egged him on,
Rajaji would never have brought forward his resolution
at New Delhi. Having great regard for his judgment and his
honesty, when he asserted with amazing assurance that I